Alarm circuit for balers and the like



Jan. 6, 1953 c, J, ow 2,624,791

ALARM CIRCUIT FOR BALERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 E- 5 INVENTOR' Jan. 6, 3953 c. J. KROW 2,624,791

ALARM CIRCUIT FOR BALERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENITOR.

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ALARM CIRCUIT FOR BALERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. "feczZ f /f/fa/4 Jan. 6, 1953 c. J. KROW ALARM CIRCUIT FOR BALERS AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 10, 1950 6 Elam J a 4 m w I 1 1 4 1. 4 3. 1/ iii,

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Jan. 6, 1953 c. J. KROW ALARM CIRCUIT FOR BALERS AND THE LIKE 7"SheeiS-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 10, 1950 I N V EN TOR. (2c; Z J #214144 B Y W VA Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATE ALARM CIRCUIT FoR-BALERS AND THE LIKE Cecil J. Krow, Ralstomj Okla. Application October 10, 1959, Serial him-189,380

21"Claims. (Cl. 177-31'1) I This invention relates generally to alarm circuits and more particularly toward an alarm circuit for a machine for baling or the like and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 102,857 filed July 2', 1949 for Alarm Circuit for Balers and the Like now abandoned.

An object of this invention is to provide a new alarm system for a baleror the like which will indicate to the operator thereof that the supply of baling wire has been used up.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a means which will indicate a break in the baling wire.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an indication in an audible or visible manner whereby the operation of the machine may be terminated before improperly tied bales are discharged from the baler.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the claims appended hereto and the drawings in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a "fragmentary view with parts broken away for clarity diagrammatically illustrating a baler equipped with an alarm and embodying the invention, one of the wires being shown as broken to energize the alarm; 7

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary enlarged views showing the tying means in greater detail and with none of the wires broken;

Fig. 4 is a view iii-perspective of a portion of one form of baler showing one way in which the ungrounded baling wire is supported;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing one way in which the wire supporting sleeve is insulated from the main baler structure;

Fig. 6 is a view showing one way in which the wire guides are insulatingly carried by the twister housing;

Fig. '7 is a View partly in section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6; I V

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of one of the wire guides of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a view taken along the line -9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic'view-of an alarm circuit embodying a periodically energized switch;

Fig. 11 is a viewin perspective of anotherportion of the baler shown in- Fig. .4 showing one way in which the periodically actuated switch may be connected to the baler;

Fig. 12 is a partial view showing a modified way ily available in the open market.

2 in which the periodiczswitch may be controlled; I Fig. l3 is a diagrammatic view of one way in which the invention may be applied to a tractorbaler combination; 7

Fig 14: is a perspective View of another type of baler embodying the invention;

Figs. 15 and 16 are enlarged detailed views of portions of the baler oi Fig. 14 showing the invention in greater detail;

Fig. 17 isa schematic view of the form of the invention shown in 'Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is aperspective view of still another type of baler embodying the invention;

Figs. 19 and 20 are enlarged detailed views of portions of thebaler of Fig. 18 showing the invention in greater detail; and

Fig. 21 is asc hematicview of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 18.

Generically the invention contemplates providing an electrical alarm the circuit of which includes a portion of the baling wire of the machine and arranged sothat, if this circuit portion is broken, the electrical condition of the circuit will be altered thereby energizing the alarm. Basically the circuit includes a suitable source of energy such as a storage battery B, which may bea separate battery or the battery of the tractor propellingthe baler, a normally closed relay, and a portion of the baling wire. The same battery may be used to energize the alarm. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, an alarm is used generically and may be any kind ofsuitable mechanism for giving an audible, visual, or other signal which will notify an operator. Whilegenerically the alarm can be actuated by either an increase or decrease in current through the relay winding, I have shown a network in which it acts on a decrease in current flow and therefore the circuit for the alarm is controlled by means of a normally closed relay contact which is responsive to the energized condition of the relay winding which is in series circuit with a portion of the baler wire.

In order to clearly illustrate'and describe the invention, it is s'hown as being applied to three different types of existing b'alers which are read- In Figs. 1 through 1 1 the invention is shown as being applied to a John Deere, 'No. 116W Automatic Pickup Hay Baler. In' Figs. 14 "through 17 the invention is shown'as being applied tb a model 3 Bale Master manufactured by the Oliver Corporation and in Figs. 18 through 21 is being shown 3 as being embodied in a Minneapolis Moline Bale- O-Matic machine.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 11, the John Deere baler is provided with upper wire supply boxes 2 and 4, wire tubes 6 and 8 and wire guides I and I2. The baler I is also provided with lower wire boxes I4 and I6 secured to the under portion of the baler. In normal operation of the baler, the wire boxes 2, 4 and I4, I6 will each contain a coil of baling wire 26, 22, 24 and 26 respectively. When threaded, wires 20, 22 will extend outwardly of the wire boxes 2 and 4, pass through the wire tubes 6 and 8 and around the wire guides I0 and I2 of the tying and cutoff mechanism 28 and pass into the bale chamber 36. Likewise wires 24 and 26 extend from the wire boxes I4 and I6 around the bottom needles 32 and 34 of the knotting and cutoff mechanism 28 into the chamber 30. The Wires 20 and 22 normally have their end portions within chamber 30 twisted to the wires 24 and 26 respectively to provide a pair of spaced wires extending across this chamber 30 so that as the material to be baled is pushed along the chamber 30 past the upper and lower apertures 36 and 38 thereof by the plunger 40, the wire will wrap itself around the end and sides of the bale being formed, sufficient wire being withdrawn from the bale boxes 2, 4, I4 and I6 to permit the bale to move down through the bale chamber.

A toothed wheel 42 carried adjacent the upper wall of the chamber 30 is engaged and rotated by the bale during its movement and determines the size of the bale. After predetermined rotation of wheel 42, depending upon the size of bale desired, it trips suitable mechanism to cause the bottom needles to move upwardly around the end of the bale and move the wires I4 and I6 into the lower end portion of the twister and cutoff mechanism after which the mechanism is actuated to twist the Wires together about the bale and an intermediate portion of the twisted wire is thereafter cut providing another set of spaced wires for tying a subsequent bale in the same manner.

The alarm system of the invention is shown as being applied to this type of baler by electrically insulating the wire boxes 2 and 4 from each other and from the other metal parts of the baler, by either insulatingly supporting the wire tubes 6 and 8 or using tubes 8a and 8a fabricated from electrical insulating material, and by insulatingly supporting the wire guides I0 and I2. The boxes 2 and 4 are illustrated in Fig, 11 as being separate boxes spaced from each other by a sheet of insulation 44 and from the bales by a sheet of insulation 46. The boxes may be secured to the baler by insulated bolts or any other desired manner. The tubes 6 and 8 are illustrated in Figs. 4 and as extending through spaced apertures 48 in the supporting cross arm 56 and having a shoulder 52 and an externally screw threaded portion 54 which receives a clamping nut 56. An insulating bushing 58 having flanges 60 and 62 is placed within each aperture 48 of the supporting cross arm 50 with the flanges overlying opposite sides of the arm 59. A pair of washers 64 and 66 abut the outer surfaces of the flanges 60 and 62 and are clamped thereto between the shoulder 52 and nut 56 to securely but insulatingly secure the tubes 6 and 8 to the arm 50. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the tubes 6a and 8a are illustrated as being fabricated of electrical insulating material and secured to cross arm 59 in any suitable manner.

An illustrative construction for insulatingly securing the guides I0 and I2 to the twister box 68 is shown in Figs. 6-9. Bushings 10 of rubber or other electrical insulating material are received within apertures in and extend between spaced side walls 12 and 14 of each guide In and I2. The bushings 10 are further provided with flange portions I6 and I8 which overlie the walls 12 and "I4. The portion 76 serves to space the wall 12 of guide I0 and wall I4 of guide I2 from the supporting lugs 80 of the box 68. The portions 18 serve to space the head of the bolts 62 from the walls 14 of guide l0 and I2 of guide I2. As shown in Fig. 9, the stop pulley bracket 34 is provided with a tip 86 of rubber or other insulating material and which may be vulcanized thereto to complete the insulation of the guides I9 and I2 from the box 68.

The alarm system comprises a source of electrical energy such as the illustrated battery B which may be a separate battery or if the baler is drawn by a tractor could be the tractor battery. One terminal of the battery is grounded as at 90 while the other terminal is connected by a conductor 92, through an on-off switch 94 to one terminal of the energizing winding of each of the relays 96 and 98. The conductor 92 beyond switch 64 is also connected to one of the normally closed contacts a of each of the relays 96 and 93. The other of each of the pairs of contacts a is connected together and to one terminal of an alarm I00 having its other terminal grounded as at I 02, It is to be understood that the alarm, as used in the specification and claims, is generic to any kind of a mechanism, audible or visual or other mechanism which will notify an operator of the existence of a defective operation. Also by ground connection is meant any common electrical conducting medium and may be the uninsulated parts of the baler.

The other terminal of the winding of the relay 96 is connected by a conductor I04 with the coil of wire in the wire box 2 diagrammatically shown as connected to the box 2 which is fabricated from a current conducting medium. The other terminal of the energizing winding of the relay 98 is likewise connected to the box 4 by a conductor I66. In this manner the wires 26 and 22 are electrically connected through the relays 96 and 98 and switch 94 to the ungrounded terminal of. the battery 13.

The wires 20 and 22 extend outwardly of the boxes 2 and 4 through tubular guides 6 and 8 or 6a and 8a, as the case may be, and around the upper and lower pulleys I 68 and I II) of the guides I6 and I2 and into the bale chamber 30. The wires 24 and 26, as above described, also extend into the chamber 30 and are joined to wires 20 and 22 respectively. The wires 29 and 22 are mechanically and electrically connected respectively with the wires 24 and 26. Since the boxes I 4 and I6 are made of electrically conducting material and are grounded to the baler, as is the other terminal of battery B, a circuit will be established through the relays 96 and 93. If the boxes I4 and I6 should not be of conducting material or if the other terminal of the battery is not grounded then a conductor connected to wires 24 and 26 and battery B should be provided.

A description of operation of this form is as follows:

Upon closure of the switch 94, an electrical circuit will be established from the battery B through switch 94, the winding of relay 96, conductor I64, box 2, wires 26 and 24 to ground through the baler. Likewise acircuit is establishedthrough the winding of relay 98,conductor I 06, box4, wires 2 2 and 25 to ground "through the baler. The baler is connected to the-battery B.

The current from the wires 22 and 26 will distribute itself between paths of least resistance from the Wires 22 and 26 to the baler through any metal parts touched by these wires. If it is desired to have the current flow from the wires 24 and 23 to the baler solely through the. boxes I4. and It, then the lower. needle mechanisms 32 and 34 are insulated similarly to theabove. illustrations and if desired insulatingstrips may be applied to the inner surface of the. chamber H which might contact. thev wires.20,'22,' 24.. or 25. Under most.conditionsafault.occurs. due to a, breaking of the wiresjatthe. time. of tying, a failure to tie, or. due to the wire. beingexhausted from a wire box. The first twofailures result in a reduction of they normal tension on. the wires 20 or, 22 permitting them to relax. Wire 22 (Fig. 1) is shown in such a relaxed conditionwith its broken end up within the sleeve I2. In such an instance the wire 22 will be electricallyv insulated from the baler, thereby interrupting the, circuit through the relay 93. Ifthe wire becomes exhausted in the boxes 2 or 4, thealarm circuit is obviously broken. If the wire becomes exhausted in the boxes I4. or IE5, it will obviously be but a short time before no wire will'be tied to that fed from the companion box 2 or 4 which will cause the wire from such companion box to relax and break the circuit to ground.

The relays 90 and 08 are of the normally closed contact type so that with the electrical circuit through their windings completed they will be energized to maintain. their contacts a open. When, however, oneof the wires breaks, fails to tie, etc., as did 22 and the circuit through the associated relay, in this instance relay 98, is broken the contacts a thereof will'close and cornplete a circuit from the battery B through conductor 92, switch 04, contacts a of relay 98, a1arm I02, and ground I02 back to the battery B. The alarm I thus energized warns the operator of such a fault so that it may be corrected.v 'Normally as illustrated by the circuit through relay 2% the relay contacts a are held open and the alarm de-energized.

In the form of the invention shown inFig. 1, the battery B is connected to the relays 96 and 98 during all times that the alarm circuit is in operation. In Fig. 10 there is shown a modified form of such circuit in which a switch H2 is'inserted in the conductor 92 intermediate the switch 94 and the windings of the relays 0G and 98 for periodically connecting .the alarm circuit to the battery thereby substantially reducing the power required to operate the alarm network. The switch H2 may be of any known construction, such. as, for example, the type of switch used in connection with brake pedals for energizing stop lights on motor'vehicles and may be connected to be periodically operated from a suitable moving part of the baler. In Fig. 12 the switch H2 is shown as being actuated by the toothed wheel 42 while in Fig. 11 it is shown as being actuated by the needle frame.

As illustrated, switch H2 comprises a casing H4 having a plunger H6 therein provided with a spring H8 which normally urges the plunger in, a rightward direction. Theplunger is pro.- vided with an insulating washer I20 so that upon movement of the plunger to the left it contacts the movable contact support I22 moving this contact into engagement with a fixed con- .6 tact I24 carried by the casing M4 to complete the circuit from the switch 94 tothe relays Stand 98. In Fig. 11 this switch I I2 is moved'to closed position by the movement of the needle frame to complete a bale tying operation and will be held closed until the baleis tied and a new set of wires extends across chamber 30. In Fig. 12 the switch H2 is diagrammatically-shown as being operated by rotation of the toothedwheel 42 which determines the bale size. In this instance the shaft I23 uponwhich the toothed wheel 42 is mounted is provided with a crank arm I28 which connects with the switch through link I30. As the wheel 42' rotates, the crank arm I28 will move the switch M2 to closed-circuit position once each revolution thereof.

While only two ways for operating theswitch II2 are specifically illustrated, it is-to' b'edistinctly understood that these are illustrativeonly and that within the broad intent of 'theinvention, the switch I I2 may be periodically operated by any desired portion of. the baler. mechanism or by other. timing. devices.

In Fig. 13 the invention is shown as being energized from the battery of the tractor which draws the baler. In other respects, the circuit of Fig. 13 is. similar with that of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 14 through 17 which show various parts of the, model 8 Bale Master, the baling wire is contained.withinleft-hand wire boxes 222 and right-hand wire boxes 204, 205 carried on the. left and right hand. sides of the bale chute 236 of theBale Master 2I0. Wire.2 I2 extends outwardly from the box 200 around a pulley 2 id attached to the side of the bale chamber 22% and around pulleys 2I0 and 2I8 carried on one end or" the upper shuttle 220. The wire then passes, around another pulley 222 on the free end of the shuttle 220 and into the bale chamber 282. A wire 224 extends from the wire box 204 around pulleys 223, 228. and 230 into the bale chamber 2639' wherein it is secured to the end of the wire 2 I2. The shuttle 220 is actuated by suitable mechanism (not shown) to periodically pass within the. bale chamber 209 carrying the wire 2 I 2 therewith in which the tying mechanism (not shown) ties the wire 2I2 to the wire 224 around the bale after which it cuts the wires 2 I2 and 224 in such a manner. that the wire around the bale is freed from the rest of thewires 2I2 and 224 and wires 2 i2 and 224 are again tied together for a subsequent bale. Similarly wires extend from the boxes 202 and 203 through lower needles and pulleys for tying a second wire spaced. downwardly from the first wire around the bale.-.

In applying the alarm to this type of baler, the wire boxes 20%) and 222 are made independent of each other and are electrically insulated from each other by the electrical insulating sheet material 232 placed between the boxes 200 and 202 and by means of rubber bushings 234 carried on the bolts 236 which-secure.the boxes 200 and 202 to the pale chamber 208. In the form shown, the bushings 234 are provided with a recessed portion into which flanges. 238 .of the boxes. 200,. 202 fit. The boxes 290, 202 are thereby. electrically insulated from each-other andfromthe.BalezMaster 2I2. The pulleys 2I; l..are electrically insulated from the baler, as best illustrated in'Fig. 15, by providing a sheet of electrical insulating material intermediate the pulley-frame 242 and a bracket 24:3 carried on the balerw In this-form, bushings of rubber orother electric insulating material 2%- are provided -abou't the bolts- 248 which secure the pulley-frame242-to the bracket As in other forms of the invention, the bushings are provided with a headed end portion for preventing th bolts 248 from engaging the bracket 244. The shuttle 220 is similarly insulatingly carried by the shuttle arm 250 by means of the pad 252 of electrical insulating material, the bushings 254 and the headed portions 256 of the bushings 254. In this way the wire 212 is electrically insulated from the other metal parts of the machine except at its end portion which is tied to the wire 224 and which is periodically received in the knotting mechanism (not shown).

The alarm circuit for this form of the invention is energized from a suitable source of electrical energy such as battery B1, one terminal of which is grounded to the frame of the baler 216 as diagrammatically illustrated at 258. The other or ungrounded terminal of the battery is connected by conductor 26!] through switch 262 to the energizing windings of normally closed relays 264 and 266. The other terminal of the winding of the relay 264 is connected by conductor 261 to the upper left-hand wire box 200. This box is of electrical conducting material and is provided with a bar 268 to which a loop 269 of the wire 212 is connected whereby wire 212 is electrically connected to the winding of relay 264. The other terminal of the winding of the relay 266 is similarly connected by means of conductor 210 to the wire 211 within the lower left-hand Wire box 202. The wires 212 and 211 extend respectively around the upper and lower pulley blocks 214 and through the pulleys in the upper and lower needles into the bale chamber 209 as previously described. Upon closure of the switch 262 a circuit will be established from the ungrounded terminal of the battery B1 through the windings of the relays 264 and 266 and through the conductors 26'! and 210 to the wires 212 and 211.

The wires from the upper and lower right-hand coil boxes 204 and 206 are connected to the wires 212 and 211 respectively and since these boxes 204 and 206 are grounded, a circuit will be established back to the grounded terminal of the battery B1. As shown, the pulleys 226, 223 and 230 are grounded and the current flowing to ground will not all flow through the box 234 but will distribute itself through these and any other grounded connections of the wire. If the wires 212 and 211 are not broken, a flow of current will be maintained through the relays 264 and 266 to maintain the normally closed contacts open. If, however, the wires break, as described above in connection with the John Deere machine, the circuit to ground from the wires 212 or 2'11 will become broken thereby de-energizing the respective relay permitting its normally closed relay to close its contacts and energize the alarm 160. The circuit for the alarm 100 is just like that disclosed in Fig. 1. It will be appreciated that the switch 1 12 could be inserted in conductor 260 if desired. In such event it could be actuated, as for example, by the toothed bale measuring wheel (not shown) or by the needle actuating mechanism.

Figs. 18 through 21 show the invention as applied to the Bale-O-Matic baler 304. In this form of baler, the baling wire is carried on upper and lower spools 300, 302 carried by the frame of the Bale-O-Matic baler 304. The wire 306 carried by the spool 300 extends outwardly therefrom and around suitable guiding pulleys to the upper needle 308 from whence it passes across the bale chamber 310 and is anchored between the adjustable wire holding lug 312 (Figs. 19 and 20) and the adjacent one of the lugs 314 of the upper Wire holding ring 316. Similarly the wire 318 carried by the spool 302 is supported by the lower needle 320 and passes across the chamber 310 wherein it is secured between the lower wire holding lug 322 and one of the lugs 324 of the lower wire holding ring 326. After a bale has been formed by the piston 328, suitable mechanism (not shown) actuates the upper and lower needles 308 and 320 to move across the chamber 310 to thread wire into the spinner 330 after which the spinner rotates to twist the wires together. Thereafter suitable mechanism, generally designated 332, rotates vertical shaft 334 to rotate the upper and lower holding rings 316 and 326. Rotation of the rings 316 and 326 frees the previously held end of the two wires 306 and 318 now tied around the bale and the next lug inserts a section of the upper wire 306 between the holding lug 312 and the cutoff lug 336 while a similar section of wire 318 is inserted between lugs adjacent the lower ring 32 6. Movement of the lugs 314 and 324 into position, as shown in Fig. 20, cooperates with the cutoff lug 336 and lower cutoff lug 33'! to cut the wires 306 and 316 to thereby free the bale and to clamp the end of the wires 306 and 318 between the holding lugs 312 and 314 and lugs 322 and 324 respectively. Subsequently the upper needle 308 will be withdrawn from across the chamber and the baler will be ready to bale and tie a subsequent bale. As shown, these holding rings are provided with four lugs so that they will be given one-quarter revolutions each bale tying operation.

In applying the alarm to this type of baler, the usual battery B2 is provided having one terminal thereof grounded as at 338, the other terminal of which is connected by means of conductOr 340 to one terminal of the energizing winding of each of the normally closed relays 342 and 344. A manually operated on and off switch 346 is inserted in the conductor 340. It will be apparent that, if desired, the switch 112 could also be used and would be placed in conductor 340. The switch could be actuated, for example, by the toothed bale measuring wheel (not shown) or by the needle actuating mechanism. The other terminal of the winding of the relay 342 is connected by means of conductor 348 to the holding lug 312. In applying the invention, the lug 312 is suitably insulated from the metal parts of the Bale Master, as for example, by the rubber bushing 350 having upper head 352 and lower head 354 whereby the holding lug 312 is rigidly carried by the machine but electrically insulated therefrom.

Similarly the other terminal of the winding of the relay 344 is connected by means of conductor 356 to the lower holding lug 322 which is similarly insulated from the other parts of the machine, as shown in Fig. 21. One contact of each of the relays 342 and 344 is connected to the conductor 340. The other contacts are each connected to conductor 358 and through an alarm to ground 338. Since the ground 338 is a diagrammatic representation of the metal parts of the Bale-O-Matic, the existence of a wire end between one of the lugs 314 or 324 and holding lugs 312 or 322 respectively will complete electrical circuits through the relays 342 and 344 substantially as described above to maintain the contacts of these relays 342 and 344 in open circuit condition. If, for some reason or other, the baler fails to function properly and no wire end is interposed between a holding lug and one of the lugs of one of the holding rings, the corre- 'throi gated bale chamber, a first sponding circuit through one of the relays 342 and 3 54 will be brolrenpermitting its contacts to close to establish the alarm circuita's indicated in connection with'Fig. 1.

The operation of the Bale-O-Matic as well as the John Deere and Bale Master is well known to those skilled in the art and only sufficient description of operation and detailed views thereof have been given to enable'on'e skilled in the art to understand applicants invention.

While I have specifically disclosed the invention as applied to only three types of balers, it is believed it will be apparent that the invention may be applied to any existing baler inaccordance with the general teachings above given so that a portion of the bale tying Wire will be in circuit with electrical control elements which'will respond to a change in conditions of the circuit as reflected by the absence of the bale wire thereinto energize an alarm for advising'the operator of the existence of the faulty operation.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a device ofthe character described, having a pair of spools containing wire for wrapping material, means operable to periodically secure together a portion or said wire of each said spool as a consequence of the completingof the wrapping of a first package, an electrical circuit including said portions, an alarm, means for normally maintaining said circuit energized, and means responsive to a ole-energized condition of said circuit indicative of a discontinuity in one of said portions for energizing said alarm.

2. In a b'aler having a pair of spaced wire supply be es containing a supply of current conducting baling wire which is supplied outwardly 01 said boxes for tying the baled material, said extending wires being normally electrically and mechanically connected together to provide a continuous electric circuit between said Wire in said boxes, a normally conducting electric circuit including said extending wires, a circuit controlling device responsive to current flow through said circuit, and an alarm controlled by said device for indicating a change in conductivity of said circuit.

In combination a baler having a bale chamher, a pair i wire boxes, a supply of Wire in each of said boxes, an end portion of wire extending outward y of each of said boxes and. within said chair e automatic means for tying a bale of n saidchamber and for normally mainwi end portions in electrical con- .er, said end portions being inintegral with said individual supply of wire .in the respective said box from which it extends, an electric relay, a first conductor adaptto be connected to one term'inalof an electrical potential source and electrically connected to said supply of Wire in a first of said boxes, 3, secon conductor adapted to be connected to a second te mii" l of said potential source and electrically connecte d supply of wire associated with a sec-oi 0. boxes to provide a circuit including can. w "1d portions, current flow sensitive iii-cans respo ve to changes in current flow in said eir"" t, and means actuated by sad so e means.

In hay baler, a housing providing an elonwire hex carried by but electrically insulated from said housing, a second box carried Thy said housing, each of said adapted to receive a supply or wire provided with an outlet whereby angered portion of the wire contained therein may be threaded outwardly thereof and into said chambenmeans associated with said chamber for-using said wire end portions to tie a bale in said chamber and maintaining said end portions electrically connected together, an electrical circuit including said end portions adapted to be continually energized during operation of said machine, an alarm mechanism, and means responsive to a de-energization of said circuit for energizing said mechanism.

5. A control circuit adapted to be associated with a baling mechanism of the type in which the to be baled is tied with a current conducting medium, a current conductor adapted to be electrically connected to on'e'term-inal of electrical supply and to be electrically connected to the medium to "be wrapped about the bale, a second current conductor adapted to be electrically connected to a secondterminal-of the supply and to be electrically connected to "the medium to be Wrapped'about the bale whereby a portion of said medium electrically connects said conductors, an alarm circuit including an actuated device having a first condition responsive to an unbroken section of said medium 'portion and a second condition repsonsive to a broken section of said medium portion, and means responsive to a condition of current-flow through said medium portion for placing said device in said first condition and responsive to a condition of no current flow through said medium portion for placing said device in said second condition.

6. A control circuit adapted to be associated with a baling mechanism of the type in which the material to bebaled is tied witha current conducting medium, a current'conductor adapted to be electrically connected'to one terminal of an electrical supply and to be electrically connected to the medium to be Wrapped about the bale, a second current conductor adapted-to be electrically connected to a second terminal of the supply and to be electrically connected to the medium to be wrapped about the 'bale whereby a portion of said mediumelectricallyconnects said conductors, and means actuated'as'a consequence of a change in flow of current through said'm'edium portion.

'7. A control circuit adapted to be associated with a baling mechanism of the type in which the material to be baled is tied with a length of current conducting medium, a current conduct tor adapted to be electrically connected to one terminal of an electrical supply and to be electrically connected to the medium to be wrapped about the bale, a second current conductora'dapted to be electrically connected to a second to minal oi the supply and to be electrically con nected to the medium to be wrapped about the bale whereby a portion of said medium electrically connects said conductors, an alarm circuit including an actuated device having a first condition responsive to an unbroken section of said medium portion and a second condition responsive to a broken section "of said medium portion, and a relay switch having normally closed contacts for energizing said circuit to 'place said device in said second condition, said relay 'having'an energizing Winding arranged in series circuit in one of said conductors, said relay being responsive to current flow through said one conductor for opening said contacts to deenergize said circuit thereby to place said device in said first condiion.

8. A control circuit for indicating the failure of a baler to tie two spools of wire together comprising an electrical relay having normally closed contacts and an actuating winding, means adapted to connect one portion of said winding to a source of electrical energy supply, means adapted to connect another portion of said winding to one of such spools and to connect a second of said spools to said supply whereby the tie between said spools forms a part of the conducting path between said supply and said other winding portion, a conductor connecting one of said contacts to said supply, an alarm, and means connecting said alarm in circuit between the other of said contacts and said source.

9. An alarm circuit for a baling machine having a supply of current conducting medium and means to wrap such medium about and tie up bales of material comprising an alarm mechanism, an electrical circuit including a pair of conducting means, said conducting means being adapted to make electrical contact with such medium whereby said medium normally acts to electrically connect said conducting means, and means responsive to the current flow between said conducting means for controlling said alarm mechanism.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said conducting means are arranged longitudinally of such medium.

11. The combination of claim 9 in which said conducting means are arranged on opposite sides of such medium.

12. The combination of claim 9 in which switch means is provided to periodically de-energize both said alarm and said conducting means, and means to periodically actuate said switch.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which said switch actuating means actuates in timed relation to the operation of such baling machine.

14. The combination of claim 12 in which said switch actuating means is actuated by a reciprocating part of such baling machine.

15. The combination of claim 12 in which said switch actuating means is actuated by a rotating part of such baling machine.

16. In an alarm system for wrapping machines utilizing a current conducting medium for wrapping material, a pair of terminals adapted to be energized from a source of electrical energy, a first current conducting means connecting one of said pair of terminals to such medium at a first point, a second current conducting means connecting a second of said pair of terminals to such medium at a second point whereby a portion of such medium electrically connects said first and second conducting means, and actuating means responsive to the change in electrical condition in one of said conducting means occurring as a consequence of a changein electrical connection between said conducting means.

17. In a baling machine having mechanism for wrapping and tying material with a current conducting medium and including a pair of spaced relatively movable portions for clampingly securing a portion of such medium as a step of its wrapping operation, means insulatingly supporting one of said portions, an electrical circuit adapted to be supplied with electrical energy from a source thereof and including said portions, said portions being electrically isolated from each other except when a portion of said medium is clamped therebetween, and means responsive to changes in the electrical condition of said circuit resulting as a consequence of the absence of a portion of such medium from between said portions.

18. In a baling machine for baling material with a current conducting medium, a pair of clamping members between which a portion of said conducting medium may be clamped, said members being insulated from each other except through said conducting medium, a current controlled alarm circuit having a pair of terminals and an alarm mechanism actuated as function of current flow between said terminals, and means connecting said terminals to said clamping members.

19. An alarm system for a baling machine utilizing an electrical conducting wrapping medium comprising, an electrical network adapted to be energized from a source of potential and an alarm mechanism responsive to current flow between two portions of said network, said portions being arranged to be electrically connected by said medium during normal operation of such machine.

20. In a baling machine for baling material with baling wire which has a normal path through such machine, an alarm mechanism, a circuit adapted to be supplied with electrical potential and including a current responsive device having an actuator operatively connected to control said mechanism, said circuit further including a pair of circuit portions positioned adjacent such normal path whereby such baling wire when in such normal path will complete an electrical circuit between said circuit portions.

21. In a baling machine using an electrical conductor for baling material, a pair of terminals adapted to be supplied with an electrical potential, means connecting one of said terminals to such conductor when such conductor is in normal position in such machine, a current responsive device having an actuator and an actuating coil, means connecting one portion of said coil to a second of said terminals, and means electrically insulated from said one terminal and connected,

to a second portion of said coil and arranged to contact such conductor when such conductor is in its normal position in such machine whereby such normally positioned conductor completes an energizing circuit for said device, an alarm actuated by said actuator to warn the operator of such machine of an improper condition of such conductor.

CECIL J. KROW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,911 Rouse Oct. 3, 1911 1,098,493 Gladney June 2, 1914 1,098,602 Warman June 2, 1914 1,305,836 Schoening June 3, 1919 2,509,017 Sear May 23, 1950 

